Forensic Psychology - Week 8 - Part 4

Flashcards about complex clients, psychologist roles, and treatment planning.

Comorbid mental health issues

Co-occurring mental health conditions that can complicate a case.

Severity, frequency and duration of institutional behaviours of concern

Intensity, how often, and how long problematic behaviors occur within an institutional setting.

Risk Assessment

Evaluates the likelihood of an offender re-offending or causing harm.

Need

Identifying what the offender requires that will reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

Responsivity

Tailoring interventions to match the offender's learning style, motivation, abilities, and strengths.

Extensive file review

Involves examining an individual's records to identify risk indicators, criminal history, and bio-psychosocial factors.

Risk indicators

Alerts regarding behavioural risk to staff and historical behaviours in custody (offence parallelling behaviours?).

Biopsychosocial history

An individual's prior diagnoses, assessments, trauma, previous treatment, cultural background, organic disorders (e.g. neurological), family history and social supports.

Clinical assessment of offender

Mental state examination/ mental health review, risk assessment, responsivity, treatment goals, insight.

Cultural case formulation

Taking into account the individuals cultural background when understanding the case.

Presenting problem

The difficulties the client is experiencing

Predisposing factors

Historical factors that may have made the client more vulnerable to the problem

Precipitating factors

The immediate events or issues that triggered the problem

Perpetuating factors

The factors that maintain the problem, such as ongoing substance use or repeating behavioural patterns. What function do the behaviours serve?

Protective factors

The strengths or supports that may help the client, such as social support, skills, or interests